Footwear



H. C. HEBIG FOOTWEAR Dec. 31", 1929.y

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1929 fai H. C. HEBIG FOOTWEAR Dee. 31, 1929.

Filed Aug. so, 1929' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wfjgYa//fad Patented Dec; 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I HENRY HEBIGfOF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY-FIVE PER CENT '.lO NELSON LITTELL, OF NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT FOOTWEAR Application` led August 80, 1929. Serial No. 389,341.

This invention relates lto new and useful improvements in footwear, particularly bathing shoes, bedroom slippers or sandals made substantiallygof sponge rubber.

Itis a principal object of this invention to construct apair of bathing sandals, bedroom shoes or Asli pers substantially entirely out of sponge rub r for use in bathing to prevent sllpping on smooth surfaces and to provide comfortable lounging slippers.

It is another object of my invention to provide a bathing sandal or shoe having a sole of porous sponge rubber which does not slip on vsmooth surfaces.

vide an economical method whereby a shoe or slipper may be formed from sponge rubber.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rubber sponge slipper, or a slipper with 2o a rubber sponge sole, which may be used either at the beach as a bathing slipper or in the home as a lounging slipper or both.

. Other objects of my invention will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the attached drawings illustrating preferred forms of embodiment .thereof and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an allsponge rubber shoe preferably formed of one so piece of sponge rubber.

Figure 2 is a central section thru the shoe shown in Fig. 1, shown in use.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a .modified form of all-rubber sponge shoe.

Figure 4 is a section of the portion of the shoe shown in Fig. 3 taken substantially on the line 4 4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a still further modified formof r shoe; and Figure 6 is a section thru the toe portion taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

I have found that commercial rubber sponge can be formed into bathing and loung- Another object of this invention is to pro,

I have therefore constructed a shoe or slipper 10 as shown in Fig. 1 which may be made out of porous sponge rubber. It particularly comprises the upper portion l()a and the lower portion l()b preferably formed from a single block of rubber sponge although it may be formed in separate parts glued to'- gether. The opening 12 is adapted to receive a foot of the wearer and the resilience of the rubber is sufficient to cause it to cling to the foot 14 as shown in Fig. 2. This rubber shoe may be formed by molding or by cutting a suhciently large block of sponge rubber with a knife to form the outer side walls and sole and then by forcing the inner portion, to be removed, out and above the wall portion which is to remain, the portion to be removed p can be severed with a sharp knife and as the rubberregains its natural position, the suitable depression for receiving the foot will remain. 4

When placing the shoe on the foot, particularly for bathing, it will he found that the rubber has a high coefficient of friction on the surface with which it may contact and does not -easily slide. Being porous, however, it does not stick to the surface and can be raised and moved with facility and also absorbs any moisture dueto perspiration of the foot.

This shoe has an added feature that when the bathers foot is raised4 and lowered in the water 16, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, the water will pass thru the porous shoe and pass between the toes to produce an added cleansing effect or when worn in the `home-v the' porous rubber will permit passage of air through thewalls thereof in walking to permit ventilation. The water will also pass up the sides of the foot and after stepping up and down several times, particularly in soapy water, it will be found that the foot cleans itself.

The shoe may be made in one single piece 0f rubber, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or it may be made from several pieces as shown in Fig. 3. These pieces comprise the toe portion 20, the heel or ankle portion22 and the sole or bottom portion 24. The toe and the ankle portion may be suitably formed and joined along the line 26 by any preferred form of facture, as such bulk quantities of rubber are not required. It is also possible'to use different materials for t-he upper and sole portions of the shoe. Porous sponge rubber will be used on the sole.

If a canvas top is desired, this may be formed as shown in Fig. 5, which similarly comprises a toe portion 30, heel or ankle porthe rubber sponge will be found to be tion 32 and sole portion 34. If a canvas shoe is used the toe and ankle portions 30 and 32 respectively, will be the only portions made of the canvas, the bottom portion 34; being of the heretofore mentioned sponge rubber.

VItis necessary that the bottom be of very l porous sponge rubber in order that it will not slip on smooth surfaces and will ermit the water to pass over4 the wearers oot. The canvas top portion of the shoe shown in Fig. 5, can preferably be sewed, as shown at 36 in Fig. 6 to the bottom ortion and eyelets for laces may be provide so that the shoe can be secured to the wearers foot.

It will be found that a shoe such as this is particularly desirable for use in shower baths and for children standing in bath tubs and for many other places where large quantities of soapy water or extremely smooth surfaces, such as porcelain or enamel surfaces require a shoe on the wearers foot to prevent slipping. It is also :particularly desirable when `taking shower baths as the limited walking of the bather, will not only repeatedly cause the water to pass thru the shoe to wash the bathers foot, but accidental ste ping on the soap cake, inadvertently dropp onthe floor, will not cause a serious fall. ly When used as an ordinary bedroom slip r ligllizt, comfortable and durable, roviding a warm ventilated enclosure for t e foot which is noiseless for walking absorbs any perspirau.

tion of the foot and is soft to the touch.

I t will be understood that the article described ma be made up in many various ways as a shoe, s ipper, mule or scuif or booties and may have all or onl a portion thereof made of sponge rubber an that other modifications may be made. Itis my intention to consider within the scope of this invention, similar rubber sponge devices adapted for the similar purposes hereinbefore mentioned unless otherwise excluded by the following append ed claims.

" I' claim:

1. A shoe having a sole formed of sponge rubber which is of substantially uniform porosity and is provided with intercommunicating openings extending from the interior 'to the exterior whereby air and water may freely pass therethrough in both directions.

2. A shoe having an upper and a sole formed of sponge rubber which is of substanti ally uniform porosity and is provided with intercommunicating openings from the interior to the exterior whereby air and water may freely pass therethrough in' perspiration of the foot extending las ist 

